US1703865A - Mouthpiece for musical wind instrumernts - Google Patents

Description

Mar. 5, 1929. P, ARTHUR 1,703,865

MOUTHPIECE FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed July 30o 1924 Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL ARTHUR, OF ELKHORN, WISCONSIN, yASSIGNOR, TO FRANK HOLTON & CO., OF ELKHORN, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MOUTHPIECE FOR MUSICAL WIND INSIR'IJIIMIIEIN'TS.`

Application filed July 30, 1924. Serial N'o. 729,028.

This invention relates to mouthpieces for musical Wind instruments, such cornets, trombones, and other instruments of a like nature, in which the vibration is produced by the lips of the musician. Y

The object ot the invention is to provide a mouthpiece which may he operated either as a standard mouthpiece or operated to provit1 a shock absorbing device it'or the lios oi" the musician, and it may also be umu as a no pressure device to prevent the operator from exerting undue pressure upon the lips. The various features of the mouthpiece are incorporated Within the normal tubing length of the instrument.

The invention is exempliied in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section ot an instrument mouthpiece embodying` one :torni ot' the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 ot Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 a section on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

The numeral 10 `designates the main body portion oi the mouthpiece having the usual flared opening 11 at one end thereot and having a cylindrical tube 12 at the opposite end. Telescoping overthe tube 12 in a second tube 13 which tzipers on its outer periphery to ht the tube of the instrument in the usual manner. The end of the tube 13 opposite the instrument is provided with a l'ian lfl which carries a cvliiulrituil rim l5 at its outer pcriphei The edge ot the rim 15 overlaps a shoulder 1 6 on the mouthpiece bod); iff), there being a sullicient space 1T to permit the tubes 12 and 13 to move longitndinalli,v on one another. A spring 1S is interposed between the ange lli and the body 10 to normally force he'iflanoje le away from the shoulder 1G. A pin 19 enters an opening 20 in the shoulder 1C to hold the parts against relative rotation. yAn outer sleeve Q1 is threaded on the mouthpiece bod)v 1() and is provided with flange 22 which limits t-he outward movement ofthe tube 13. Y

It will be apparent/that the spring 18 provides a shock absorbing medium for cushioning the lips against sudden movement of the instrument toward the musician. This protection is or" great importance7 especially when the musician is playing While riding or marching It should be noted that the telescoping portions which enclose the spring partially surround the body portion ot the mouthpiece and the connecting tube therefor so that it is included Within the usual length of the mouthpiece so that the tubular length of the instrument is not increased as would be the case it a special spring attachment were interposed between the mouthpiece and the instrument.

The tubes 12 and 13 are provided with longitudinally alined openings 23 and 24, respectively, which are offset longitudinally7 rela-tive to one another when the spring 18 is expanded'. A spring 25 surrounds the portion of the tube 13 having the openings therein, the spring being provided with openings 26 which may be brought into registration with the openings 24. The spring may also be turned to move the openings 26 out of registration, thus closing the openings 2l. The spring preferably tits the tube 13 sufficiently tight to remain in its various positions ot. adjustment due to friction between the parts. l

lt is Well known that a great majority of musici ans when playing naturally press the 'instrument more .tightly against the lips when playing the higher notes. This in time tends to deaden the sensitiveness o'i the lips and interfere with the technique of the player. A few musicians acquire the abil itv of playing the higher notes Without increasing the pressure on the lips, which method is called the no pressure method oit' playing.

` This is recognized as being the ideal Way of producing the high notes Where the musician is able to play in this Way. The present invention facilitates this no pressure method for the reason that When the pressure on the lips reaches a predetermined amount the CIJ openings 23 and 2li are brought into registration, thus preventing further sound until the pr ssure is reduced. Practice With an instrument having this no pressure. attachment enables the musician to acquire the no pressure habit of playing so that he not only improv-e the quality-oli the music, but learns to play with muchl less eiilort than Where the usual method is employed, 1

Ii" it is desired to use the instrument Without the no pressure attachment it is only necessary to rotate the ring 25 until the openings 24 are closed. The shock Vabsorbing feature may also be placed out et' operation if desired.

For this purpose a screuv 2T isinserted in the outer face ot' the flange lei and is provider vwith an eccentric head 28 which may be rotated into position to overlap the iiange 'ie/at 29, thus locking the tube l in its extended position. When the screw head 28 is in its locking positon and the ogen ings are closed by the ring 25, the mouthpiece operates the ordinary mouthpiece and has the same general appearance and is substantially the same'length, It u'ill thus be seen thatthe pi sent invention embodies in one mouthpiece the ordinary i'orm and also the shock absorl ing and no pressure features.

Thilo I' have illustrated one torni of the invention, it will be understood that variousy changes in details may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims,

l clain l. A mouthpiece i'or musical Windinstruents comprising an instrument engaging i en'iber, a lip member slidably mounted. said instrument engaging member, spring interposed between said `lip enaging member and Vinstrument engaging ien'iber tor protecting the lips et the user m' "est mesure exerted on said instrupaging men/ibex', and means for Yocking said instrun'ient engaging member lip engaging member agaist relative movement to render said spring ineriective hold said lip engaging member in rigid reiation with the instrument engaging niember.

between said members, and means for closing the passage to atmosphere formed by said openings when in registration with each other. f f

3. A mouthpiece for musical Wind instruopenings in said members arranged to register with each other to form a passage to atmosphere from the interior ofi said lip engaging member when said members are moved to one position relativeto each other, and means :tor closing said passage.

l. A' mouthpiece for musical Wind instruments comprising a pair of vtubular telescoping inembe s, a lip engaging enlargement carried at one end of one-ot said tubular members, an enlarged sleeve portion carried at the end ot rthe other of said tubular members, a sieeve mounted on said lip engaging portion and teleseoping with said enlarged sleeve portifm, and a spring interposed between said members and esielosed by the sleeve carried by said lip engaging portion.

5. A mouthpiece i'or musical Wind inst-ruinents comprising tivo telescoping tubular members, an enlarged lip engaging portion mounted at the end oione of said-tubular members, an outwardly projecting flange at tue end of the other ofsaid tubular members, sleeve mounted at the outer periphery of said flange, a second sleeve carried by said ip engaging member telescoping with said first named sleeve, a spring having one end earing against said lip engaging portion and the otherl end bearing against said fla-nge, said spring being housed Within said sleeves, and meansfor holding said members against relative rotation with freedom oit telescoping movement. f

6. A. mouthpiece for musical Wind instruments comprisin a lip engaging portion having a tubular extension, an instrument portion arranged to telescope with said este sion, said instrument engaging portion and said extension having' openings therethrough movable into registration with one another when a predetermined pressure lis exerted upon, said'ins rinnent engaging porion and i iid lip engaging psutiou, a spring ier norma-ily hoh-iii j said openings out oi" .or closing the opening instrun'ien engaging portion, and mea s r locking s Ed lip engaging portion aniL said instrument engaging portion against rotative movement. y y

'i'. A mouthpiece for musical Wind instruments comprising a lip portion having a tubular extension, and an opening through the Wall et said extension, an instrument-engaging member slidably mounted on extension and having an opening through the wail thereof movable into registration 'with the opening in said extension,

against relative rotation, and means for looking said extension and instrument-engaging 10 member in iXed position with the openings therein out of registration.

In testimony7 whereof I have signed m name to this specification on this 18th clay of July, A. D. 1924:.

PAUL` ARTHUR.

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